Victor Company of Japan, Shochiku, Eisei Gekijo
Television Tokyo Channel 12, Dentsu, Ogura Jimusyo
PISTOL OPERA
Makiko Esumi
Sayoko Yamaguchi Hanae Kan
Masatoshi Nagase Kirin Kiki
Haruko Kato Kenji Sawada
Mikijiro Hira
Art Director Takeo Kimura, Cinematography: Yonezo Maeda, Lighting Kazuo Yabe
Special Effects Shinji Higuchi, Editor Akira Suzuki
Screenplay Kazunori Ito, Music Kazufumi Kodama
Producers: Satoru Ogura, Ikki Katashima
Director: Seijun Suzuki
Four Seasons
The second quarter results are out.
Not interested?
Do you have...
a man?
I'm okay.
You mean yes?
No answer?
You know your ranking?
No. 3, the "Stray Cat." Any change?
Are you...
a lesbian?
Sorry, but not with you, Ms. Uekyo.
I'm not saying that.
If you know you're No. 3...
quit being picky on the jobs.
Eeney-meeney-miney-moe!
Pros don't want reasons...
just the results.
No. 3 on the list sounds pretty good.
Oh no...
I feel like doing it now.
I'm tired of my toy.
So, you'll do...
...the job.
I'll send one over.
Ranking:
No. 1 Hundred Eyes, No. 2 Useless Man
No. 3 Stray Cat
Here!
My man.
Target CEO's mistress. Hobbies Swimming, diving
You know we have a problem?
Where's the pistol?
You did it...
you interfered.
"Stray Cat," eh?
I knew you'd come.
Because I'm "Teacher," got it?
Stop that. Others will see.
The pistol... hey.
Got it there, eh?
Forget this.
Dump the pistols. Got their fingerprints.
The one called "Teacher"...
was he your pawn?
Yes.
So you know the details?
Details?
What?
I killed him.
Didn't know.
Bitch!
Anything else?
The Guild, agents... makes me laugh.
You think you can get out of the Guild?
I know you want a pistol, but you're never getting one.
Go have fun with your toy.
Wait...
Stray Cat, you killed Teacher, right?
Useless Man's gone too.
He died smiling.
Which means Hundred Eyes killed him...
The No. 1 killer!
Who're you talking to?
Just ignore me.
But here it is.
The pros are limited.
Their aim could overlap...
but isn't it strange?
What if your last job was just an excuse?
Suppose the real target...
was to get Stray Cat or Teacher?
With luck, they could both be dead.
Now the Guild is unstable.
Survive until the Guild shakeup is over.
It'll be your chance.
You look unhappy.
I had more fire at your age.
With all your wisdom...
With all your technique...
Killing blooms into an artwork.
My job was beautiful.
Eeney-meeney-miney-moe! The result... a crutch.
Like my soliloquy?
I like rice and women before and after work.
From Sayoko Uekyo.
Money and a letter.
Read it...
" Previous salary."
" Have a new job."
" Want to meet you."
Really.
Burn the letter.
Yes.
Your hands. What's wrong?
Don't you want to talk with me?
They're hot.
Will you do it?
Next job comes directly from the Guild.
The target...
Hundred Eyes.
I'll say this first; there's no report.
Simple reason.
They have no idea who Hundred Eyes is.
Same with you.
Only connection is l, the agent.
It should have worked as a security system for members.
If something happens, a chain reaction is a problem.
You're nervous.
The previous killing?
The Guild doesn't think about its members.
They had a reason, so they killed him.
That's all.
The next reward comes with the title of No. 1.
Eeney-meeney-miney-moe!
Not romantic.
Or, you don't have the guts.
Dogs follow masters.
But I'm a stray cat.
Show your face.
Anyway.
Let's forget we talked.
But...
Should you quit this job...
who knows what...
Hundred Eyes will do.
Beautiful.
Want to die?
Do you want to die?
Do you?
Ouch...
Now, you're dead...
so don't bother me.
Interesting.
What... do you want?
We'll kill you!
Try me!
Tell the evil that I'll be coming.
Have the devil waiting in hell.
Female Samurai Amazed: Murder During Play
Hey... It's been a while.
The Guild?
Yeah so - so.
Getting a bit chaotic.
Okay, but this info isn't cheap.
Okay, I'm waiting.
Manager, please.
Model gun!
I love Japanese girls.
Turns me on.
Ouch, ouch.
Who are you?
Don't know me?
Painless Surgeon, No. 5.
You...
Didn't know.
Why here?
Got order... destroy... info system.
Hundred Eyes.
Hundred Eyes. You met him?
He trusted me.
Chose me as partner.
I kill everyone here as an agreement.
Painless.
You can't feel pain.
Attractive face.
Shame to kill you.
I love you.
You in pain, I love it, you understand?
Maybe I love you too.
Really, really?
Yes.
All right!
I like that you feel no pain.
But I'd like you more with a pierced heart.
Liar! You're saying that to save yourself!
Cut my heart... I die.
No.
It's because I want you as a partner.
I'm the Stray Cat.
No. 3?
Together, Hundred Eyes is no problem.
No. 1 is yours.
So show me how you can feel no pain at all.
Spill your blood with me...
How is it?
More...
All right.
So good...
More.
Yes.
Beautiful.
Huh?
Your simpleness is a charm.
Congratulations.
You helped me?
Who? Someone else?
Here.
Looks delicious.
Is that a toy?
Yes, I can't carry the real thing here.
Can I have it?
As you like.
Your name?
Sa-yo-ko.
Sayoko.
Thanks for your help.
I must go.
Somebody's here?
Let's go.
Where?
Let's go.
Welcome back.
Have a seat.
You can relax.
It's your house.
As you may have noticed, I'm Hundred Eyes.
I didn't come to kill you.
That's your situation.
I've got mine.
Ah, don't worry.
Just greetings today.
You know the floating corpse that was smiling?
I've heard.
If you hit the medulla oblongata accurately...
The facial expression changes into a smile.
A divine pinpoint shot.
Said to be No. 1 's sublime technique.
Please, go ahead.
But...
that smiling face was different.
By death, targets are freed from strain and fear.
That's the reason for that smile.
Do you understand?
I wonder why.
I'll tell you.
Soon, I'll relive your anxiety...
with the relief of death.
Excuse me...
That's all.
Please, some sake?
You seem to enjoy pretending.
After you.
It's not safe here, so we should part quickly.
Left to right.
Sister!
Sister, are you stupid or what?
" I wandered lonely as a cloud..."
"that floats on high o'er vales and hills..."
"when all at once I saw a cloud."
I want to be one, too.
A killer.
Why were you there?
Up to something?
Don't know.
To meet you, maybe.
Teach me how to kill.
If I say no?
Once you're better, I might ask again.
Who are you?
Sayoko, I told you.
Whatever.
Hey...
I'm not teaching.
Shall l?
I know you do it alone.
I'll...
Don't take it wrong.
I like doing it myself.
Need no help.
How'd you know?
Tell me where you saw?
Or I'll spank you!
Good bye.
Humpty Dumpty sat on the wall.
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
Humpty Dumpty sat on the wall.
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
All the king's horses, and all the king's men...
Couldn't put Humpty Dumpty together again.
"The Champ"?
That guy.
The annoying one's coming.
Is he stalking you?
Hundred Eyes took the list of killers in secret.
This is the beginning.
There's no such list.
I've seen it.
When?
During the Tokyo Olympics.
I was born after that.
Anyway, there was one.
So, there's one now.
Even if it wasn't official...
as times change, so do killers.
Yeah, yeah, yeah!
Like Eye teamed with Surgeon!
We make the impossible possible...
and make it into art.
Consider it an offering to the deceased...
Hundred Eyes brings a smile to the dead.
I admire that.
I've escaped by balloons.
Good you didn't fall.
My skill!
The artful escaper.
The Guild recognized ones like us.
So we respected the Guild rankings.
Ah, I remember.
When I was No. 3...
The point?
Be proud to be a pro...
That's why...
by taking the list...
Hundred Eyes puts everyone in danger...
It's against the rules, right?
Hey...
Why are you telling me?
We're similar, in a sense.
Recruiting partners?
Don't be conceited.
We're equal as pros.
And I've got experience.
No need to team up.
Even if I'm a bit disabled...
I can still pull a trigger.
Want to try me?
When the time comes, if necessary.
If you want to live, trust no one.
Of course.
That's sad.
A shame.
You chose this path.
No. 7 Long Distance Palanquin
No. 6 Party Animal
No. 9 Ghostwriter
No. 8 Snake Belly
There was a goldfish on the shore,
bigger than a whale.
A beautiful orange...
writhing in pain, being burned by the sun.
There are many people, but they can do nothing.
Rather, the dying goldfish fascinates them.
By the sunset, the goldfish dies.
Under the evening glow like that of...
a bleeding sky...
the scales reflect the sunlight...
with gold, deep red, orange...
pale pink, pale red...
deep red and shadow black...
So beautiful.
I watch until sunset.
But once the sun sets...
the luster fades away...
and the scales came off like pinecones.
Vermin swarms about it...
and there appears a hollow eye like a hole.
All kinds of calamities coming out of the hole...
Iike an ill omen.
Nobody watches it anymore.
But the dead goldfish...
still insists on its presence.
Because of its overwhelming size...
Iike it or not, it's in your eyes day and night.
You understand?
Living beside death.
It was a dream,
but I wonder why it made me feel so peaceful.
So, you're still alive.
You too.
I want a pistol I can reload with one hand.
Oh, a showdown where one magazine isn't enough?
But will you have time to change it then?
How about a Springfield?
Looks good. With bullets and magazine.
The Guild will know you shopped here.
Because the Guild is like insurance for doing this kind of job.
And the Eye, too?
Hmm... maybe.
It's not a big deal if a killer carries a pistol.
Who cares if they know?
I don't like to sell to such a determined customer.
How much?
1 million yen?
Do I look so serious?
I'm trying to enjoy myself.
Eye knew the poppy field.
The public bath, also.
Still. I don't know where he is.
I must tempt him to come out.
INTERNATlONAL TERROR EXPO
Ladies and gentlemen...
these rarities gathered here...
can be summed up by the word terror.
You, with the baby...
Oh, the baby's crying, suffering.
The moment of terror before birth.
After 10 months of safety in the womb...
it suddenly enters the world...
and screams in terror!
You're seriously doing it.
For now.
Okay. Anything else?
You know the Champ?
The man who was No.1 for a very short time?
Is that so?
What about him?
Anything to do with this whole fuss?
Not at all.
His abilities are below the rankings.
But he still clings to his illusions...
and roams about the guild...
Iike a ghost.
You met him?
If it's unrelated,
that's fine.
After this, I want to quit the agent business.
I'm tired, I want to relax.
The Guild won't stay quiet.
They'll watch.
I think it's annoying,
but is there any other way?
It's cruel to say, but there's only death.
Huh?
Sister.
Let's go.
You're back.
You're back, back.
I'll bite your nose.
- Sorry to interrupt. - It's okay, stay.
Thanks.
Go put something on.
I love you, sister.
Love you too.
Perfect.
I think it's okay to live my life as a pistol.
Teach me how to kill.
Liar.
Listen... hear it?
Sounds of blood spurting.
The pistol turning red with my blood.
Yes. Scary right?
No, it's easy to die.
Uekyo Sayoko, food...
I believe in your victory.
I believe...
Now, now, now, now.
Empty-handed, a disgrace.
Take your gun.
A blue sky.
Like your face.
Don't be an idiot.
Let the game begin!
Damn, she doesn't show her back.
Now!
What?
Why?
Silly...
You're really Hundred Eyes?
Want to know?
I'm not telling you.
Poor thing.
Safety First!
Hundred Eyes, the observer, always watching.
Thus, anytime, anywhere...
pressure is applied on opponents.
But, did he really see?
Hundred Eyes is still alive.
Hey!
No!
Good girl.
Open your mouth.
Long time no see.
Care for a dance?
I heard you're crippled.
Just to keep everyone off guard.
You mean the other rankers?
Of course.
Sounds stupid.
Well...
I hear you're meddling with a young girl.
Jealous?
Who?
You've changed. But that's okay. I hate jealous women.
Nothing stays the same.
Are those the words of Shizuka...
who stopped one step short?
I said it's not like before.
I stopped at No. 1 1, which... allows me to observe calmly.
Your silver bullet's crying.
The sign of a pro.
A serial number carved into...
the silver guild-approved bullet.
What's your number?
1900
Weight of tradition. And you?
I forgot.
I have other memories to deal with.
Hey, you shouldn't say that.
You can only do this business because of the Guild.
Maybe.
When I remember the past... Can you show me Champ's quick draw?
C'mon, can you?
Back.
C'mon, can you?
Back again.
So fun, fun, fun.
Ready? 1, 2, 3...
Good night. Hope we'll meet again.
Stray Cat, right?
I respect you. I'm honored to meet you.
Who?
No name yet, I'm new.
Freeze.
It's delivered.
Can I shake your hand?
Next time.
Too bad.
I'll look forward to it.
If there is a next time.
2001
Blue-faced killer...
Knew I recognized him somewhere...
Who are you?
I've seen you somewhere.
Disappeared past the mirror...
I'm scared.
There's this anxiety.
I am enough...
but I have a feeling
someone might get involved.
Don't worry about me.
I'm always ready.
The face of a killer is my face.
A woman's face identical to mine.
If I stop, the wind will blow.
Maybe together we'll...
shoot each other.
You remembered.
Here is where the Guild
gave you the silver bullet.
Yes.
A pro's passport.
When you were 25 or 26.
Afterwards, you just ran up the ranks.
The point?
You got it?
What?
That.
The pill case.
What is this?
Hundred Eyes invitation.
Hundred Eyes...
Hundred Eyes number 2001 is inscribed.
Don't need two of these.
Why not throw it away?
Your attitude is annoying.
Sorry...
Even so,
the Guild hasn't forgiven your selfishness.
I did it.
I contrived the killings.
Bravo!
I want to be paid back.
What should I do?
I wanted to be at peace.
Wanted to be put at rest.
You said then...
"there's only death."
I said such a rude thing?
Yes.
But no suicides.
I want to die gloriously.
The killer's runway...
to die atop the stage, like an actress.
At the peak of aesthetics.
I killed at Tokyo Station.
After a merciless battle...
I put Useless Man to death.
The next attempt was No.5, Painless Surgeon.
But surprisingly you killed him instead.
Then I thought of the tournament method.
Rankers chase each other...
one killer makes it to the top...
...named "the Challenger".
No stress, and it doesn't take time.
Hundred Eyes can just concentrate on one.
That was you, Stray Cat,
and No. 8 Snake Belly.
Eeney-meeney-miney-moe!
Snake Belly lost.
Next was the man you shot, Dark Horse...
my hidden jewel.
So, you weren't even there. Why?
Licking an old man's ass?
Don't mess with me, bitch.
First eye.
Hundred Eyes wasn't alone.
2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th...
6th, 7th got crippled... 8th is crazy, 9th died...
count to 10 and then there's the 98th Dark Horse...
and the 99th is Sayoko...
Plan to carve out her eyes, too?
Now Hundred Eyes lost all eyes.
No eyes, just blind, with dirty killing techniques
the lost eye, here and there. Funny, funny.
Hundred Eyes loss...
is your loss.
I'll spare you for now, but get ready for death.
You want relief?
Or to live with shame like the Champ?
I'll kill you first...
and wait for challengers...
maybe a genius will appear.
Octopus!
Blockhead!
Fatso!
Wrinkled old witch!
Directions said shooting range was 20 meters.
And Hundred Eyes'?
200...
I'm the next full moon...
you're the full moon...
and that person will be the disappearing moon.
Disappearing...
from left to right.
Life is such.
You look terrible.
Teach me how to kill.
Oh,
I had a vision I was replacing your body and rode the boat with the dead people.
The dead?
The killers.
With the river glaring?
Yes, the glaring river.
I said, " let's go" at the bathhouse.
Here we are.
I've decided...
You can have my head.
Run, brothers.
Bring death.
In your path...
towards victory.
brothers.
Bring death.
In your path...
towards victory.
When I was a child,
I liked collecting small flags.
It still...
excites me when I see flags...
from all countries.
In the movie "Carmen Comes Home"...
when I saw the Japanese flag...
between two Americanized dancers...
I couldn't stop crying.
But in my dream...
fireworks behind the dancers burst...
then the Japanese flag, Stars and Stripes...
the Union Jack
and others spread to the blue sky.
All the flags were bloody...
muddy and shitty.
Sorry to be rude.
But it really had the smell...
of rotting slime, blood and meat.
The flags fall...
and burn also,
Germany, Russia,
Italy, Spain, Canada...
Not one ordinary flag.
What does it mean?
The dancers are dancing merrily.
The dream is a bad omen...
but I can't stop having it.
I had a dream of Mishima.
In the dream, for some reason...
he covers his head.
I was a fan of Mishima's books.
He committed suicide in front of the Self Defense Forces.
It's true.
The headless Mishima appears in the dream. A painful dream.
I want to help the fellow...
and sew his head back on.
First I use silk thread.
But it just falls off.
Even with kite string, fish line, guitar string...
the neck won't stay on.
Even wire's no good.
Maybe because I don't have the power or will.
Eeney-meeney-miney-moe!
Blue-faced killer...
Knew I recognized him somewhere...
Disappeared past the mirror...
You killed Hundred Eyes.
If so, you're No. 1...
Congratulations!
Kill me, and you'll be back as No. 1.
That's it.
Last one always comes to me. Bring him down and I'm No. 1.
No one fallen from No. 1...
has ever been able to recapture the title.
I'll be the first to do it.
I'm No. 1. I am No. 1!
Trembling?
I might be faking it.
You're no pro.
What?
As you like.
Don't touch.
Don't look!
The corpse belongs to me.
Idiot...
I'm an idiot...
Idiot!
THE END
Directed by Seijun Suzuki